The Avro 683 Lancaster bomber was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the Royal Air Force and allies during the Second World War (1939-45). Lancasters were particularly used in nighttime bombing raids and could carry the heaviest bombs ever dropped in WWII. Lancasters dropped the 'bouncing bombs' on several Ruhr dams in Operation Chastise, the 'Dambusters' raid of May 1943.
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Definition
Timeline
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Jan 1941The first prototype of the Lancaster bomber is built.
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Mar 1942The first RAF Lancaster bomber squadrons are formed.
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Aug 1942Lancaster bombers attack the MAN factory producing diesel engines for U-boats in Augsburg.
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16 May 1943Lancaster bombers carry out Operation Chastise, the 'Dambusters' raid on Ruhr dams in Germany.
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12 Nov 1944Lancaster bombers sink the German battleship Tirpitz in Norwegian waters.
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14 Mar 1945Lancaster bombers drop 'Grand Slam' bombs on the Bielefeld Viaduct and destroy it.
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1950The last RAF Lancaster bomber in service is decomissioned.